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Saturday, March 31 2007"To Be Sure"
Because Hamas' political platform did not conform to key elements of the peace process, including Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist and a commitment to renounce violence, the international community imposed sanctions on the Palestinian Authority. "To be sure?" Fayad should know better. 1. A look at the PA unity government platform doesn't bear out Fayyad's claims. See here for details. 2. Abbas' primary task as required by the road map was to dismantle the infrastructure of terror. Instead, Abbas asked Hamas to form a government. 3. The PLO isn't the "sole representative" of the Palestinian people. The overwhelming number of Palestinians voted for Hamas -- which never joined the more secular PLO. Even during the pre-Oslo years, the Tunisia-based PLO nearly faded into obscurity while Israel dealt with local Palestinians on the ground. 4. Mahmoud Abbas’ legitimacy stems from his position as popularly elected President of the Palestinian Authority. He was only chosen as PLO chairman by cadres of the member organizations after Yasser Arafat died. The Palestinians need democracy, and they also need to live with the consequences of their choice of votes. The PA is the democratic and legitimate representative of the Palestinians, who have elected Hamas -- warts and all. Friday, March 30 2007Sacrifice Israel For Arab Coalition Against Iran
Orly Azoulay reports from the Riyadh summit that leaders want Israel to pay a steep price for a "moderate Arab coalition" against Iran: Diplomatic sources at the conference told me that behind the scenes the following move is being consolidated: The US has realized that it is losing its power due to its tendency for unilateralism towards Israel and has decided to get closer to Saudi Arabia so that it would consolidate a moderate Arab coalition. Thursday, March 29 2007From Riyadh With Love
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is currently engaged in promoting the Saudi peace initiative between Israel and the Arab states, wanted to convey a placating message: He believed that if he brought a joint delegation comprising Arab journalists and an Israeli media representative on the same plane, he would succeed in partially breaking the ice. Earlier this week, the Saudis tried to bar Azoulay from entering the country. Her presence is a welcome development, but will the summit she's covering lead to a more meaningful achievement for Ban? Telling Off the UN
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch told off the world body's Human Rights Council. We raised issues with the council's hypocritical fixation with Israel. Don't miss the "outrage" of council president Luis Alfonso De Alba. Bungled Headline Of the Day
Today's Bungled Headline Award goes to AP: Kidnapped BBC correspondent longest held in Gaza Alan Johnston has been held for 17 days, but the headline only works if you exclude Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who doesn't enjoy the luxury of being on the BBC payroll. Shalit was kidnapped 277 days ago. Wednesday, March 28 2007Globe Website Photos Distort Reality
Globe and Mail photos and captions don't give readers the full picture. See HonestReporting-Canada's latest communique: Globe Website Photos Distort Reality. Lights On, Nobody Home
A: See the Daily Telegraph for another great example of license fee money well-spent. (Hat tip: Tom Gross) Moderation In the Name of Sanitation
Can the Hamas government clean up Gaza's sewage tsunami and demonstrate it can administer the day to day functions of the PA? Cox and Forkum think not.
Last year, George Will brushed off arguments that the mundane activities of managing the Palestinian affairs will have a positive effect on Hamas: But their stance -- Israel must die -- is, they say, the will of God, who has not authorized moderation in the name of sanitation. Full Court Press
All this puts Martin Rosenbaum of Open Secrets, a BBC blog dedicated to freedom of information issues, in an unusual predicament: Commenters on this blog have sometimes in the past asked me for my views on the Balen Report, but as I have said before, since I have not read it I can't comment on its contents. We're in the same boat. HonestReporting's FOI request was turned down by the BBC last year. Tuesday, March 27 2007Talking To Fatah: So What?
In the 15 months since then, Fatah has not made a single real reform, made any effort to combat its rampant corruption or brought younger dissidents into the leadership. Instead of articulating an alternative to the Hamas position, Fatah has simply tried to compete in proving how militant and willing to use violence it can be. This is a no-win strategy. (Hat tip: Headlines & Deadlines) ABC: Giving Airtime to Extremists
An Australian radio show spreads the myth of Zionist collaboration with the Nazis. Read the latest HonestReporting communique - ABC: Giving Airtime to Extremists Daily Mail Features Palestinian Incitement Video
The Daily Mail shows a horrific video of a child sending her suicide bomber mother to her death. See HonestReporting-UK's latest communique: Daily Mail Features Palestinian Incitement Video Mombasa Attacks Planner Nabbed
The bombing of Mombasa's Paradise Hotel killed 15 people. Simultaneously, a missile barely missed an Israeli Arkia passenger plane carrying 261 passengers. A Pearl of Wisdom
See Professor Judea Pearl's response to Professor Saree Makdisi on the international community's demand that Hamas accept Israel's right to exist: Never in the history of nations has a society defined itself on the ruins of a neighboring democracy and never has such society sought sovereignty and international legitimacy while admitting its intent. Makdisi, for example, is not a bit embarrassed to argue for a Palestinian state on Israel's tomb while quoting from Orwell on language and morality. The Irish Model
We hope developments in Ireland lead to a better situation. How long will it take for Hamas or Hezbollah apologists to draw silly comparisons between the Irish peace process and the Israeli-Arab conflict? UPDATE April 10: Does Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Trudy Rubin fit the bill? "Everybody Knows Who's Holding Alan Johnston"
Z. told Haaretz he believed the worst was yet to come. "Pretty soon there will be militants in each and every junction. Everybody knows who's holding Alan Johnston, the BBC correspondent kidnapped two weeks ago. It's a large family, and they're after money. Instead of surrounding the premises and acting against them, the security forces are negotiating with them," he complains. "Breaking in their will cost lives, but there's no alternative. You have to move in with force to restore order." The BBC's options appear limited. Following last week's fiasco over an Italian journalist abducted by the Taliban, public opinion won't support negotiating with Johnston's captors. After years of sugarcoating Arab terror, will the BBC finally wake up? Monday, March 26 2007Worth Reading
* The Australian examines the sharp increase of honor killings in Gaza. (Hat tip: Elder of Ziyon) * Writing from Damascus, the Toronto Star’s Mitch Potter examines the effect of internet technology on Arab societies: "It is destroying the single most important attribute of governments in this region – the ability to control information. That era is dying. Now, we can all be our own ministers of information." The Return Button
The NY Times reports that Palestinian refugees are starting to reconsider the feasibility of the right of return. In 2003, pollster Khalil Shikaki learned the hard way that return is a hot button issue. Phased Plan Unfazed
In the Washington Post, Daoud Kuttab argues that the new PA government already recognizes Israel: For the first time in the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a majority of Palestinians, including the Islamists, are willing to accept a Palestinian state within the internationally acceptable borders of 1967. The implicit recognition of Israel in this is supported by clauses in agreements between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel that included mutual recognition as well as respect for Arab and international resolutions and treaties. By demanding explicit recognition before negotiations can begin, Israel and others are being unreasonable. Kuttab leaves four points unaddressed: * The Hamas vision of “peace” is Palestinian sovereignty along the 1967 borders in exchange for a temporary period of calm. * When Hamas refers to "occupation," it refers to all land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. * Nothing indicates that the Islamists have turned a corner. Sovereignty along the 1967 borders is a step in their phased plan to destroy Israel. * What changed? Last week, Hamas’ own “military wing” took credit for a shooting an Israeli and a thwarted suicide bombing. Sunday, March 25 2007Your License Fee Money At Work
The corporation, which has itself made extensive use of FOI requests in its journalism, is refusing to release papers about an internal inquiry into whether its reporting has been biased towards Palestine. The trial begins next week. The Balen report is named after Malcolm Balen, who wrote a report on the fairness of the BBC’s Mideast coverage in 2004. The report was never released to the public. Last year, the BBC turned down HonestReporting’s FOI request for a copy of the report. The trial begins next week. Friday, March 23 2007Mr. Sensitivity
Dugard said that he had previously refrained from using the term apartheid "on account of the sensitivity of the issue." Dugard used the apartheid word repeatedly in an op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year. Here's just one snippet: Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories has many features of colonization. At the same time it has many of the worst characteristics of apartheid. (The AJC link expired so click here to read the full piece. See also HonestReporting’s response.) Dugard also authored a report accusing Israel of seeking "racial domination." Could Dugard possibly be more sensitive? As for the Human Rights Council, yesterday's Chicago Sun-Times editorial heaps plenty of scorn. Enough said. Bad Cops Snatched Johnson?
Is the BBC negotiating with PA security officials who may have helped kidnap Alan Johnston? Thursday, March 22 2007Moderate Islamic Movement Launches in Ramallah
"Wasatia is a term from the Quran which means 'centrism,' 'balance' or 'moderation,' " Dajani said. "The new party will foster a culture of moderation and attract Palestinian voters who are moderate in their religious beliefs. The existing Palestinian Islamic parties breed radicalism and fundamentalism." Can Wassatia prevail? Is this too good to be true? "Pandering to Arab Sympathies"
Within weeks of becoming news director, Mr. Register put his own stamp on the network. Producers and on-air talent quickly understood that change was underway. Investigations into Arab government wrongdoing or oppression were no longer in vogue, and the ban on turning the airwaves over to terrorists was lifted. For those who had chafed under Mr. Register's predecessor--who curbed the desire of many on staff to make Al-Hurra more like al-Jazeera--the new era was welcomed warmly. Mowbray also castigates Al-Hurra's coverage of Mughrabi Gate and decisions to air sermons by Hassan Nasrallah and Ikrima Sabri. "The Second Lebanon War"
An Israeli committee officially named last summer's war "The Second Lebanon War." Can Israel successfully brand wars, and what difference does this make to the USA? Wednesday, March 21 2007Walt and Mearsheimer Book In the Works
Two leading political scientists are writing a book extending their controversial argument that the domestic pro-Israel lobby bends U.S. foreign policy disproportionately in favor of Israel, one of the authors, Stephen M. Walt of the Kennedy School of Government, confirmed yesterday.... How timely. Exactly one year ago, we blogged a number of responses to their study. Today's Recommended Reading
* See the Opinion Journal, where Khaled Abu Toameh discusses the state of the PA: Neither the president nor the prime minister openly called for an end to terrorism or for recognizing Israel's right to exist. And to add to the confusion, the two men came up with a political program that contains many contradictions and ambiguities. * Pajamas Media's Allison Kaplan Sommer contemplates the likelihood of another Mideast war this spring. What Price Freedom For Captive Journalists?
But there was strong condemnation of the agreement, with critics accusing the Afghan and Italian governments of negotiating with terrorists. For the British government, negotiating with Palestinian terrorists for Alan Johnston’s freedom is easier since the the BBC has already convinced viewers they're dealing with "militants." Tuesday, March 20 2007Only In Israel....
Only in Israel would a nation-wide civil defense drill be interrupted by real terror alert. See Haaretz for details. Made In Israel
Tension built in Harare’s townships yesterday, with doctors reporting a constant stream of people with severe injuries inflicted by police during the illegal curfew imposed over the city’s poor areas. In Highfield, south of the city, Israeli-made water cannon trucks patrolled the streets. Israel is no friend of Mugabe, who once accused Jews of conspiring against Zimbabwean businesses. Like many other African tyrants, he probably acquired second-hand weapons made in every corner of the globe. Mark Regev Interviewed
BBC Admits Bias?
Has the BBC acknowledged the bias of its kidnapped correspondent? See HonestReporting-UK's latest communique: BBC Admits Bias? Hamas Embarrassed?
Hamas Shooting Embarrasses Palestinians This headline misses the point. The sniper fire isn't inconsistent with the unity government's guidelines, which "affirms that resistance is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people." And Hamas was quick to take credit for the attack. In a society where blowing up Israelis makes for great public opinion, Hamas is anything but red-faced. Had Ohion been killed, the Palestinian media would've been full of different looking smileys. Calling The Shots
Compared to Khaled Meshaal, PM Ismail Haniyeh is a “moderate face” for Hamas. But make no mistake, Haniyah shares the Hamas covenant's goal of destroying Israel. After Hamas claimed responsibility for shooting an Israeli and trying to send a suicide bomber from Egypt, NY Times suggests the terror organization can be divided into pragmatists and militants. The events highlighted the discord that has become apparent between more pragmatic local leaders of Hamas, like Mr. Haniya, and the militants who are said to take orders from the leadership in exile led by Khaled Meshal. In his inaugural speech before the Palestinian parliament on Saturday, Mr. Haniya said Palestinians had a “legitimate right” to resist occupation “by all means.” But he also said his new government wanted to consolidate the current truce with Israel and expand it from Gaza to include the West Bank. If Meshaal’s calling the shots, why should Israel negotiate with Haniyah, as George Soros, The Guardian, and others suggest? Monday, March 19 2007"Only Israel Has Benefited From This War"
The Palestinian Government: "All Forms of Resistance"
Some of the international media attempts to whitewash the new Palestinan unity government. Hamas Suicide Bomber Nabbed
Haaretz reports that Egypt arrested a would-be suicide bomber trying to enter Israel. Salah Adnan Saleh Abdel-Salam told Egyptian interrogators Hamas was going to provide him with a bomb belt and instructions for crossing into Israel. The Hamas-Fatah unity government supports resistance. Hamas Claims Credit For Karni Shooting
Hamas is taking credit for shooting an Israeli electrical worker at the Karni Crossing. Haaretz writes: "The [Hamas] Qassam Brigades announced its responsiblity for shooting a Zionist [Israeli] and firing two mortar bombs against a gathering of Zionist soldiers near Karni crossing," the statement said. "Our strikes against the enemy will continue," it added. Just when the Palestinians were cracking the boycott of the PA.... AFP's Hard Line
The United States on Sunday said it will deal with the new Palestinian government only if it agrees to forgo violence and fully recognize Israel. Why are Hadley's comments -- which reflect the position of the Quartet -- described as hardline, while Haniyah's "right to all forms of resistance" pass with out AFP's judgment? You Name The War
1. Should the conflict be called a "war?" 2. What should the war/conflict be named, and what difference does it make? 3. Has the delayed naming had any effect on media coverage and hasbara efforts? Although the government never declared war after Hezbollah kidnapped reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, Israel has technically been in a state of war with Lebanon since 1948. UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: It's officially a war. YNet News reports that the ministerial committee will accept submissions for names and then make a decision. UPDATE March 21: See Haaretz on Branding Israel's Wars. Stop Kidnapping Journalists Who Support Us
A confirmation of pro-Palestinian bias doesn't get more official than this declaration by the PA's new Information Minister, Mustafa Barghouti. Speaking about the kidnapping of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, Barghouti, was quoted in the Jerusalem Post saying: "We are opposed to the kidnapping of foreign journalists who serve the Palestinian cause," he added. Sunday, March 18 2007Dueling Spin
In this corner, we have BBC: The BBC's Matthew Price says that while Mr Haniya's speech will not go far enough for Israel, it is important that a senior member of Hamas has again called for the establishment of a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel since 1967. And in this corner, we have CNN: Historically, Haniya's Hamas party's use of the term "occupation" does not only refer to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and, previously, Gaza. The group uses the term to characterize Israel's existence, contending that the Jewish state occupies the Palestinian territories. Sewell's Scourge
Brian Sewell, an art critic for the Evening Standard got himself in hot water with Holocaust surivivors for an article about a London exhibition commemorating slavery. In the middle of his 1,800 word article, Sewell writes: The historical slave trade was a business at least as appalling as the Holocaust, with many, many, more victims, and like the Holocaust its memory has been hijacked by the descendants of those victims and turned into a scourge with which to whip guilt into society. The Evening Standard's managing editor, Doug Wills, told the European Jewish Press that Sewell's critics took the sentence out of context. Hamas' Fig Leaf
Dry Bones hits the nail on the head on the new PA government:
Slammer Vacation
He had heard about jail from friends at school who had already done time. There was digital television, organised sports, access to books and regular meals, they told him.... Makes a mockery of Reuters. Hold The Superlatives
Palestinians install more moderate gov't And AFP? A landmark coalition government uniting rival factions took power on Saturday.... No matter who the faces are sitting around the cabinet table, Hamas calls the shots. MSM should just hold back on the superlatives until Hamas recognizes Israel's right to exist, renounce terror and accepts previous peace agreements. |
After Hamas claimed responsibility for shooting Kobi Ohion, an Israeli utility worker at the Karni Crossing, 
